Scott Bessent stated that he is considering the possibility of sanctions against Russia's 'shadow fleet.' But everything will depend on the progress of the peace negotiations on Ukraine, he added.
The possible introduction of new U.S. sanctions against Russia will depend on the progress of negotiations for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine. This statement was made by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent while speaking at a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Thursday, February 5, as reported by DW.
Bessent, along with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. President’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, was part of the American delegation in negotiations with the Russian side in Miami on January 31.
Possible U.S. Sanctions Against Russia's 'Shadow Fleet'
As reported by Reuters on February 5, among the possible sanctions against Russia, which has been waging war against Ukraine for almost four years, the U.S. Treasury Secretary mentioned measures against the Russian 'shadow fleet.' Journalists noted that Donald Trump has not pursued such sanctions since his return to the White House in January 2025.
"I will consider that possibility. Let’s see where the peace negotiations lead," Bessent stated. He expressed the opinion that U.S. sanctions against Russian oil companies 'Rosneft' and 'Lukoil' contributed to Moscow returning to the negotiating table.
Negotiations in Abu Dhabi for Peace in Ukraine
On February 5, two days of negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine concluded in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. Delegations from three countries met in a closed format. The American side in the UAE was represented by U.S. President’s special representative Stephen Witkoff, Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll. The head of the Ukrainian delegation was Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov. The Russian delegation was led by the head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Admiral Igor Kostyukov.
The head of the Ukrainian President's office, Kirill Budanov, noted that the consultations "were indeed constructive," but did not provide details. At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described them as "difficult." A few hours earlier, Witkoff reported that the parties agreed to exchange 314 prisoners.
Bessent on Kushner's Role in Peace Negotiations on Ukraine
On February 5, in response to a question about Jared Kushner's role in negotiations with Russia, Scott Bessent said that, in his opinion, the U.S. President’s son-in-law acts as a special envoy and mediator in the negotiations.
Earlier, during the Senate Banking Committee hearings, Democratic Senator Andy Kim criticized the fact that Trump’s son-in-law participates in official negotiations with Russia without proper accountability and transparency, as he does not hold an official position. "If he (Jared Kushner) wants to participate in this (U.S. negotiations with Russia for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine), he should follow the same rules for financial disclosure and conflict of interest elimination that all other senior government officials are subjected to," Kim’s statement in this regard is quoted on the senator’s website.
Leave a comment